The Bachelor Recap: Trouble in the Turret

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In the TV show “The Traitors,” Grant is the lone Faithful amidst a cast of deceivers, with no clear identities given to them off-screen. The female contestants are not getting along, constantly whispering and giggling about sharing the couch in the living room. However, it’s questionable whether 14 (or even 13) women can comfortably fit in the show’s turret, as there seem to be insufficient furnishings for such a large group. It appears they haven’t grasped the importance of cooperation and keeping conflicts minimal if they want to make it through to the end, as even Wes showed better social skills!

The contestants on this reality show have chosen throughout their journey not to publicly call out each other when discussing drama, similar to how “Name ’em! Name ’em!” is a rule in another show like “Vanderpump Rules.” Yet, Grant’s attempts to uncover conversations without conflict, roaming the Bachelor mansion like Tom Sandoval, are misguided. The rules of the Bachelor Mansion can be summarized as: 1) Avoid drama, and 2) If you must discuss drama, always name names, or else they’ll send you on a two-on-one date. In my notes, I’m marking each rose given for the sake of drama with a big D, because it seems unlikely that Sarafiena, someone Grant has barely interacted with, will make it to the end. Instead, it appears these roses are given for the sake of adding more drama, and that’s even worse than being eliminated by the Traitors.

Let’s get into it.

It’s morning at the Bachelor mansion, and Jesse shares that last night was quite emotional. This week, we can expect more raw moments to tug at our heartstrings, ladies. There will be two individual dates (the exact number is not certain) and a group date. The group date card determines who gets the one-on-one dates. Participating in the group date are Natalie, Bailey, Alexe, Ally Jo, Chloie, Sarafiena, Dina, Parsia, Rose, Zoe, Litia, and Juliana. Doesn’t everyone need a moment to catch their breath while reading that list? “Investing in love is the best decision.” In this episode, Carolina and Beverly will enjoy individual dates.

During the journey to the group date, it’s common knowledge that Grant is a day trader and is skilled in math, often referred to as “Girl Math.” However, even when this was recorded, Girl Math seemed to be fading from TikTok’s trending topics. The term might have been TikTok culture or the zeitgeist, I’m still figuring it out.

In the episode, a remix of “Searching for a man in finance” played, and Grant reminded everyone that he stands tall at 6’4″ with brown eyes. It’s interesting to note that when this remix became popular, there were signs of an impending recession, both financially and politically.

Grant is on the lookout for a partner to grow wealth together. He explained to the women that finance encompasses various aspects, from saving for their children’s college education to managing budgets effectively.

Is any of these ladies familiar with what a checkbook is, let alone the process of maintaining its balance? I rarely use checks myself as the man who maintains my building’s buzzer only accepts them (Given that I am the HOA President, it’s not the right moment for me to delve into that topic). A more engaging group activity might have been to ask these ladies to write a check and address an envelope.

Additionally, how frustrated might Jason Tartick be, considering he wasn’t invited for the date? It seems almost inconceivable, given that it aligns so closely with his personal image! And as I mentioned during Becca’s season, he exudes a charming, small-scale entrepreneurial vibe.

Have you even laughed with your gut?” Zoe needs to learn to relax and enjoy life more.

As the night segment of the date arrives, Bailey will select some unique items from the menu for special indulgence. She opts for Grant’s T-shirt as her sleeping attire and a Birkin bag with a snakeskin pattern. The exchange rate between Grant Bucks and USD is quite unpredictable at the moment. Parisa engages in the “Chubby Bunny” challenge, stuffing Rice Krispie treats into her mouth, along with Grant, resulting in endless laughter. Life seems so straightforward. Zoe confides in her fellow women that she’s feeling out of her comfort zone today and intends to make it their problem. The other women are unresponsive due to the stunt Zoe pulled last week. While Zoe is getting a drink, Sarafiena comments, “That’s the shortest dress I’ve ever seen.” This remark appears to be the trigger for Zoe’s escalation. She brings it up with Grant and accuses someone of making jabs within the house. How naive! When you don’t feel self-assured, you might say, “I attempted to lower my defenses today, and I was out of my depth, but I felt at ease doing it with you.” Do I have to take care of everything? Grant awards the group date rose to Parisa and expresses his disapproval for anyone belittling people in the house. After he departs, the women (unwisely) speculate about who made the remark, and Juliana directly questions Zoe, to which she evades the question. Zoe seems determined not to reconcile with the other women in the house, and I urge everyone to focus on being assertive instead of getting entangled in whatever Zoe is doing.

The following day, it seems like everyone is shedding tears. This…this is overwhelming. Perhaps they’ve decided to postpone The Bachelorette because no one was hydrated enough to carry on with the role. (I wonder what’s happening there? Share your theories in the comments)

It’s now Carolina’s turn for a one-on-one outing. This isn’t just any date – they’re jetting off privately to Las Vegas to experience the thrill of leaping from the Stratosphere Tower! Carolina playfully proposes a quickie wedding in Sin City, but this guy insists on a tropical beach ceremony in Paradise instead; otherwise, his future declarations might prove awkward.

On the jet, they take selfies with the Rizzler expression while frequently kissing, showing signs of a long-standing relationship. Despite Carolina’s later drama in the episode, one might say, “Girl! You’re ahead! Keep kissing him!” Upon reaching Vegas, they jump off the Strat, marking a typical “I’m scared, but I’m happy to be here with you” date. The nail detail caught my attention because Carolina uses Glamnetic press-ons, which are similar to mine. Press-on nails have improved significantly! They later moved to Drai’s Beach Club and Night Club for the evening portion of the date, at which point I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

During the evening part of their date, Carolina expresses a desire to discuss an experience she’s faced in her life. She reveals that she has epilepsy, which she finds sometimes makes others fail to reciprocate the support she’s given them. At age 13, she experienced a seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy at 17. Hearing this, I felt an instant connection with Carolina, as a friend of mine also has epilepsy. However, what touched me deeply was that the conversation seemed to position her disclosure as something Grant might need to “accept” and “handle,” rather than a shared aspect of their relationship. She’s been through situations where friendships and romantic relationships have faltered due to her condition, and she fears discussing it because people often impose limitations on her.

In my case, much like some of my cherished readers and fellow r/TheBachelor enthusiasts may recognize, I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021 and underwent a stem cell transplant in 2023. For an extended period, I chose not to disclose my cancer battle to anyone except for my closest friends and family. I had numerous discussions with friends about whether or not I should inform my colleagues about my health situation! I didn’t share it on social media, nor did I include it in my writing. This is because people can react strangely when faced with illness or disability. I couldn’t fathom the idea of disclosing my white blood cell count to The Bachelor himself. Therefore, I sympathize with Carolina for being hesitant about sharing her health concerns with Grant or anyone else, as discussing disability can alter situations. It shouldn’t be this way! However, it unfortunately is. In Carolina’s situation, I could hear her giving Grant an escape route: “Consider if [her fatigue after a concert] is something you want to cope with.” I hope she realizes that the need to do so reflects more on those around her than it does on her. Additionally, Carolina, some of us are in our 30s and can simply be exhausted! Grant expresses growing feelings for her, and he assures her that she will always come first. She receives the one-on-one rose.

The following day at the mansion, Beverly departed from the competition due to an unexpected health issue, leaving everyone puzzled about the remainder of the week. Here’s a suggestion for how things could have been handled: organize a pool party. Instead, Litia, Sarafiena, and Dina embark on a mini-group date!? The plot development this season is quite unusual, and it takes an unexpected turn as they visit Vanderpump Dogs, where Lisa Vanderpump refuses to be sidelined!

On this date, it’s amusing that Grant appears keen on finding out how deeply the women adore dogs and if they desire one, yet… he himself doesn’t own a dog! His sister is looking after his furry friend instead. Another moment that tickled me was when Dina expressed her wish for a bathing area for her pet dog at home. Really? Meanwhile, Lisa seems to vanish during the rest of the date, possibly granting the gentleman the advantage of the doubt!

For the nighttime segment, it seems Litia is in charge of the dinner during their date? Honestly, this Bachelor situation is a bit hard to decipher. I’m curious about Sarafiena and Dina’s emotions on their ride back to the mansion.

Litia delves deeper into her family background, sharing that her father passed away when she was just three months old, while Grant discusses how he acknowledges his mother as the glue that held his family together.

Oh, and let me not forget! During their daytime activities, he tells her, “You’re genuine. Those traits are what I find attractive about you. I’m drawn to you.” They even video call her mom, which makes me wonder if production was running out of ideas. If she doesn’t progress to the Hometowns, this could be a bit awkward. She receives the one-on-one rose. I must say they make an appealing couple.

As Carolina finds herself in an unprecedented state of worry, she questions whether Grant actually expressed feelings for Rose while dancing with her. If he did, one would assume the show would have shown it, but right now, it’s all about prom! The cocktail party and rose ceremony are prom-themed, as they serve to fill in the emotional backstory at a later time. Additionally, a group of contestants from “The Golden Bachelorette” arrive, but it’s unclear what their purpose is. Frankly, I can’t do my job if things aren’t making sense, and this situation is like asking someone to solve a math equation based on a Dali painting.

In a sweet turn of events, there are adorable moments such as Alexe expressing high regard for Grant, Dina inviting Grant to the prom, and Zoe asking him to dance. However, Carolina feels that this prom is her moment. She privately shares with Grant what she claims Rose said without naming names. Intrigued, Grant starts listing the women who were on the group date. He insists it must have been Rose who made such a statement. Given his aptitude for Murdle, I suspect he’s quite skilled. He sits down with Rose and inquires about her comments, explaining that they make him appear as if he’s playing the field. He repeatedly brings this up, and it seems to be a genuine concern for him. Rose responds by becoming quiet and repeating his words. She swears she heard him express his desire for a wife, which she confided in Carolina privately. Grant then returns to Carolina and informs her that Rose apologizes. In response, Carolina, understanding his feelings, reassures him: “He likes you. RELAX!

The other women are upset once more since Carolina has taken over the evening, claiming they would be sent home due to lack of time. However, after watching this show for 900 seasons, getting eliminated isn’t because of insufficient time. It’s primarily because the main character doesn’t favor you enough, or you no longer fit into the storyline crafted by the producers.

Everyone wins Prom Queen! Sure!!!!!!!

It’s now time for the significant rose distribution event. Zoe, Juliana, Alexe, Dina, Natalie, and Sarafiena (for added suspense) all receive roses. The climactic rose is given to Rose (also for suspense). Unfortunately, Bailey, Ally Jo, and Chloie are leaving the competition. I have to say, Chloie’s departure at this juncture seems to dampen the idea she was going to be the first plus-size Bachelorette.

See you next week! Now the focus is falling in love! What was the focus before!!?

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2025-02-11 09:55